Exhaust valve device for combustion and diesel engines



June 22, 1954 c, ERNAU 2,681,663

EXHAUST VALVE DEVICE FOR COMBUSTION AND DIESEL ENGINES Filed Dec. 15, 1949 INVENTOR. MILDRED C. ERNAU .modern trucks and buses. .lustrated more or less diagrammatically, such Patented June 22, 1954 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE EXHAUST VALVE DEVICE FORCOMBUSTION AND DIESEL ENGINES Mildred CLErnau, Leonia, N. J.

Application December 15,1949, SerialNo. 133,189

6 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in internal combustion engines, especially gasoline and diesel engines used in trucks and buses.

The principal object of the invention is the provision of means for muffling the noise incident to the use of such engines, said means also as- .sisting the engine flywheel in smoothing the rottative action of the engine crankshaft.

Another object of the invention is to mount said means :directly on the crankshaft, thus (simplifying the mechanism thereof and adapting it for economical =manufacture.

For further comprehension of the invention,

and .of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in Whichthe Various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forminga material part of this disclosure:

Fig.1 is afragmentary side elevation of a porition of an internal combustion engine with the .-3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view on line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. .5 is a fragmentary sectional view on line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig.6 is a sectional view on line 6-6 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view on line 'I'l of Fig. l .or Fig. 6.

Fig. .8 is an exploded isometric View of the meansshown in Figs. 6 and7.

Referring to Fig. 1, 10 indicates generallyany diesel or gasoline engine such as those used in The engine I!) is ilmechanism being wellknown and for the most lpartnot concerned in the invention. Only those parts of the engine directly concerned with the invention are illustrated in detail and described hereinafter.

Theexhaust manifold H of the .engineis connected by a pipe. IZ with a gas turbine designated generally as l3 and .whose rotor M. (Figs. 2 and 13 is secured on the end of the engine crank- ..shaft I5 which projects from the block of the engine.

The turbine licomprises a cylindrical casing it of vsuitablematerialhavinglugs 11 (Figs. 1

andv 2) by which it can be secured to the engine it in position to encompassthe crankshaft I5. To permit of the crankshaft entering the casing that surface of the latter which abuts the engine is provided with a hole [8 (Fig. 4). At its other end the casing I6 is provided with'an external annular flange 20 (Figs. 3 and 4) having threaded holes 2| (Fig. 3) therein for cooperation with bolts '22 (Fig. .1) in securing a cover plate 23 on the casing.

At the point of connection. of the pipe 2 with the casing I6 the latter is provided with a hole .24 to permit entry into the casing of the pressure of the exhaust gases from the engine. The pipe I Z-and casing [6 maybe joined in any suitable manner, but preferably the end of pipe 12 is provided with a curved annular flange '25 which is welded to the casing It about the hole '24 (Figs. 1 and2).

Approximately diametrically opposed to the 'hole "24, the casing is provided with a similar hole (not shown) through which the pressure of the exhaust gases can'pass into an exhaust pipe 26 (Figs. 1 and 2) secured to the casing by a flange 21 similar tothe flange 25 described above.

The pipe 26 is lead to any convenient point for expelling the pressure of the exhaust gases into the atmosphere.

As mentioned hereinbefore a rotor I4 is mounted on the crankshaft it within the casing l6, said rotor being secured on the shaft in any suitable way such as a key 28 (Figs. 2 and .3). Secured to the rotor and projecting radially therefrom are a plurality of turbine blades or vanes 30.

The construction is such that when the en- .gine I6 is operated the exhaust gases therefrom are expelled through the pipe i2 against the blades 30 in casing |5,Whl0h blades are being rotated by the crankshaft on which they are secured. The pressure of the exhaust gases on said blades attempts to rotate the crankshaft faster, resulting in a more even crankshaft movement. In short the blades 30 act as an auxiliary flywheel. The gases after acting on the blades 39 are expelled into the atmosphere through pipe 26. At the same time the noises of the engine explosions are muffled by the blades '36 in their casing and no mufiier is required for the exhaust. pipe 26.

It will be seen therefore that there has been provided a device for utilizing the pressure of the exhaust gases of an internal combustion engine to assist the flywheel thereof in damping or smoothing the rotative action of the crankshaft, said device at the same time mufiling theengine noise and making unnecessary the provision of a special mufiler.

To overcome the resistance to starting the engine occasioned by the turbine 01" the invention, means are provided to feed the pressure of the exhaust gases directly from the exhaust manifold l l to the exhaust pipe 26 at the time of starting the engine.

This means comprises a valve (Fig. 1) inserted between the exhaust manifold M and the pipe l2 and the exhaust pipe 26 and operable by the operator of the engine to allow the exhaust gases to flow through the turbine or not as desired.

The valve comprises a rectangular casing 3| havin oppositely disposed holes into which the pipes H and i2 are threaded (Fig. l) and having also a hole in its bottom side for a pipe 32 leading directly to exhaust pipe 26. Interiorly of the casing 35 there are provided two transverse plates 33 and 34 secured to the walls of the casing in any suitable manner to isolate atmospherically the areas on either side of the pair of plates and forming between them a slideway 35 (Fig. 6). The plates 33 and 34 are provided with aligned upper holes 36 and lower holes Sl (Figs. 7 and 8) upper edge member M is provided with an upwardly extending arm 52 which extends through a suitable slot 5-3 in the top of casing 3i.

The construction is such that in Figs. 6 and 7 the valve member 4! is in its upper position and eifectivelyblocks passage of exhaust gases from pipe ll through holes 36 to pipe 38 and thence the turbine, said gases passing through holes 3T to pipe it and thence the exhaust pipe. However, by moving said member ll to its lower position said lower holes will be blocked and the gases, would flow through the upper holes 36 to the turbine.

To move the valve member M up and down as desired, the upper end of the arm 12 has attached thereto one end of a cable i l, the intermediate portion of which passes over a pulley rotatively supported on a bracket 46 mounted on the top of the casing 3E. The other end of the cable as is attached to one arm of a suitable bell crank W pivotally mounted on the back side of the dashboard of the bus or truck in close proximity to the driver. A push button 4? is slidably mounted through the dashboard and has pin and slot connection with the other arm of the bell crank it so that when the push button M is pushed inward the bell crank M will be pivoted drawing on the cable is raising the valve member ll to the position shown in Figs. 6 and '7.

The valve member 4! is normally held in a lowered position by a contraction spring 18 which operates between a pin 59 which extends from the arm s2 and. a lug 5! which extends from the easing 3i. Thus, when no pressure is applied to the push button 47, the spring 48 will function to retain the valve member 4| in its lowered position in which it closes the aligned holes 31.

It will be noted (Figs. 7 and 8) that the arm 42 is provided with a large slot 58 to minimize the area thereof when the valve member 4| is in its lowered position and the arm is positioned between the holes 36.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise construction herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Eaving thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

l. A valve for controlling the fiow of exhaust gases of an engine through an exhaust manifold pipe to either a pipe connected to a crankshaft rotor casing or a discharge pipe, comprising a casing, a pair of inner walls in said casing, said walls forming compartments on either side of the pair and a, slideway between the pair, aligned, upper and lower holes in said walls, a valve member mounted in said slideway to alternatively block the said upper or lower holes, an arm on said member projecting through said casing, resilient means urging said valve member in one direction, and manually operative means to move said valve member against the action of said resilient means.

A valve for controlling the how of exhaust gases of an engine through an exhaust manifold pipe to either a pipe connected to the casing enclosing a crankshaft rotor or a discharge pipe, comprising a hollow casing, a pair of spaced walls mounted within said casing dividin the same into an inlet compartment and a second compartment, said walls having upper and lower pairs of aligned holes, a valve member slidably positioned between said walls, said valve member bein of a height equal to one-half the height of said walls, and means for sliding said valve memher to block either the upper or lower pair of holes.

3. A valve for controlling the flow of exhaust gases of an engine through an exhaust manifold pipe to either a pipe connected to the casing enclosing a crankshaft rotor or a discharge pipe, comprising a hollow casing, a pair of spaced walls mounted within said casing dividing the same into an inlet compartment and a second compartment, said walls having upper and lower pairs of aligned holes, a valve member slidably positioned between said walls, said valve member be ing of a height equal to one-half the height of said walls, and means for sliding said valve member to block either the upper or lower pair of holes, said slidin means comprising an arm extended vertically from said valve member and projected through the top of said casing, resilient means operating between said arm and said casil'lg retaining said valve member in a lowered position, and manually operable means for raising said valve member against the action of said resilient means.

4. A valve for controlling the flow of exhaust gases of an engine through an exhaust manifold pipe to either a pipe connected to the casing enclosing a crankshaft rotor or a discharge pipe, comprising a hollow casing, a pair of spaced walls mounted within said casing dividing the same into an inlet compartment and a second compartment, said walls having upper and lower pairs of aligned holes, a valve'inember slidably positioned between'said walls, said valve member being of a height equal to one-half the height of said walls, and means for sliding said valve member to block either the upper or lower pair of holes, said sliding means comprising an arm extended vertically from said valve member and projected through the top of said casing, resilient means operating between said arm and said casing retaining said valve member in a lowered position, and manually operable means for raising said valve member against the action of said resilient means, said resilient means comprising pins mounted on said casing and the projected upper end of said arm, and a contraction spring connected between said pins.

5. A valve for controlling the flow of exhaust gases of an engine through an exhaust manifold pipe to either a pipe connected to the casing enclosing a crankshaft rotor or a discharge pipe, comprising a hollow casing, a pair of spaced walls mounted within said casing dividing the same into an inlet compartment and a second compartment, said walls having upper and lower pairs of aligned holes, a valve member slidably positioned between said walls, said valve member being of a height equal to one-half the height of said walls, and means for sliding said valve member to block either the upper or lower pair of holes, said sliding means comprising an arm extended vertically from said valve member and projected through the top of said casing, resilient means operating between said arm and said casing retaining said valve member in a lowered position, and manually operable means for raising said valve member against the action of said resilient means, said manually operable means including a manually pullable cable connected at one end to the free end of said arm.

6. A valve for controlling the flow of exhaust gases of an engine through an exhaust manifold pipe to either a pipe connected to the casing enclosing a crankshaft rotor or a discharge pipe, H

comprising a hollow casing, a pair of spaced walls mounted within said casing dividing the same into an inlet compartment and a second compartment, said walls having upper and lower pairs of aligned holes, a valve member slidably positioned between said walls, said valve member being of a height equal to one-half the height of said Walls, and means for sliding said valve member to block either the upper or lower pair of holes, said sliding means comprising an arm extended vertically from said valve member and projected through the top of said casing, resilient means operating between said arm and said casing retaining said valve member in a lowered position, and manually operable means for raising said valve member against the action. of said resilient means, said arm having a slot closely adjacent said valve member to minimize the area of said arm when said valve member is in a lowered position blocking the lower holes and said arm extends across the upper holes oil said Walls.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 971,424 Werner Sept. 27, 1910 985,602 Jones Feb. 28, 1911 997,624 Lewis July 11, 1911 1,010,274 Leisel Nov. 28, 1911 1,214,322 Kirby Jan. 30, 1917 1,322,577 Johnston Nov. 25, 1919 1,780,828 Leach et al Nov. 4, 1930 1,854,918 Adams Apr. 19, 1932 2,031,151 Eulberg Feb. 18, 1936 2,048,696 Hellan July 28, 1936 2,196,247 Browne et al Apr. 9, 1940 2,316,981 Smith Apr. 20, 1943 2,375,852 Kilchenmann May 15, 1945 

